bamboo plywood?

great product, very stable, very durable, very $$$$$ – I can only assume that you pay for the milling and processing of the material as this is probably the most green material on the planet (regrows, replanishes itself – even too fast and too much). also very hard on blades.

I based a project on bamboo plywood, but after calculating the material involved, the project was cancelled.

here’s a good site:

http://www.plyboo.com/index.php

-- When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.

Thanks for the link
from the look of things – it’s not widely produced or distributed – at least to the public at this time, except in flooring products. Since there is a bamboo for almost every climate the problem of exporting it from China, Japan or Korea, seems to grow it here. That would make it cheaper and more accessable. The people who distribute it have one plant in SF, so it is not so plentiful in the US at this time. I was mistaken though, As I thought they were using bamboo as the center with native hardwoods as a veneer. This is not true. I did see one product, however I think if it becomes popular in the next 10-15 years it will become the next version of basement plywood paneling.

Keep in mind that bamboo is a grass. Not a tree stem.
This may help solve/explain some of the slight, yet unusual properties of the cutting, milling, gluing, etc.. of bamboo.

-- Got Wood?

Yes I have heard of it but it cost dollars! Great product.

-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker

Bamboo is becoming much more popular but it is very expensive. As plywood goes it is probably one of the most expensive plywoods out there. I believe the cost was around $145.00 per sheet for 1/2”. (this was a couple of years ago) Here is a source for bamboo plywoods:

http://bamboohardwoods.com/

I had a large retail display case project and was considering importing the wood from the philippines where it was really inexpenisive on a comparitive basis. By the customers choice we ended up using another plywood.

Cheers,

Ben

I have found that in regular veneer plywood that there is little difference in cost between 1/2 and 3/4”, but a marked difference between 1/4” and 1/2”. I was just fishing around on the internet trying to find the best price on Cherry veneer plywood when I saw the bamboo thingy, but not much info. I think we will be seeing more of it in the future as more production and growing moves to the US. As long as they take measures to keep it under control where they are growing it, and not cause an ecological disaster in our native woods I don’t see a problem growing it here as it has been used in landscaping for years. It is drought tolorant and fast growning and does not use a formaltihyde in the production, although from what I understand the high cost comes somewhat from the intense processing it goes through to become plywood or hardwood flooring.
Then again we are seeing quite a lot of new wood come on the market that was traditionally not used before. I know that where I live alder was always considered something for the slash burn pile. Now they are using it for furniture. I always wondered why as a young person – as it is a hardwood. My grandfather just called it junk. I don’t think much big leaf maple which grows here got used back then but is in demand now.